Claire McDowell

Claire McDowell (MacDowell; November 2, 1877 – October 23, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945.
Early years
Claire MacDowell was born in New York City on November 2, 1877, the daughter of Eugene A. MacDowell and Fanny Reeves. Her aunt, actress Fanny Davenport, gave her early training in acting. Fanny Davenport's second husband was Eugene's brother Melbourne MacDowell.
Career
When she was 17, she was an understudy in a theatrical company headed by Charles Frohman. Still something of a youthful beauty, McDowell appeared in numerous short, early feature films. She graduated to playing character and mother types. She appeared in Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro (1920). McDowell costarred in two of the biggest films of the silent era, The Big Parade and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, in which she played mothers both times. McDowell's Broadway credits included Herod (1909), To Have and to Hold (1901), and Hearts Are Trumps (1900).
When she was 38, McDowell retired, but later she returned to acting, particularly portraying mothers.
Personal life and death
She was married to silent screen character actor Charles Hill Mailes from 1906 until his death in 1937. The couple appeared in numerous silent films together, including The Mark of Zorro. They had two sons, Robert and Eugene. She died in Hollywood, California, on October 23, 1966, ten days before her 89th birthday.
Selected filmography
The Devil (1908, Short) – Mrs. Harold Thornton
The Planter's Wife (1908, Short) – Mrs. John Holland
A Flash of Light (1910, Short) – At First Party
The Lucky Toothache (1910, Short) – A Cousin
A Mohawk's Way (1910) as Indian mother
His Trust (1911, Short) – Colonel Frazier's Wife
His Trust Fulfilled (1911, Short) – Mrs. Frazier
What Shall We Do with Our Old? (1911, Short) – The Old Carpenter's Wife
Fisher Folks (1911)
A Decree of Destiny (1911, Short) – A Nun
The Spanish Gypsy (1911, Short) – Paula
The Broken Cross (1911, Short) – Kate's Mother
The Crooked Road (1911, Short) – A Neighbor
The Primal Call (1911, Short) – The Woman
A Country Cupid (1911, Short) – The Half-Wit's Mother
The Making of a Man (1911, Short) – Actress
The Long Road (1911, Short) – Ned's Wife
A Woman Scorned (1911, Short) – The Doctor's Wife
As in a Looking Glass (1911) – The Wife
Under Burning Skies (1912, Short) – A Friend
A Temporary Truce (1912, Short) – Mexican Jim's Wife
The Sands of Dee (1912, Short) – The Artist's Fiancée
Two Daughters of Eve (1912, Short) – The Mother
So Near, yet So Far (1912, Short) – Rich Woman in Other Town
In the Aisles of the Wild (1912, Short) – The Elder Daughter
A Sailor's Heart (1912, Short) – The Sailor's Third Sweetheart
The New York Hat (1912, Short) – First Gossip
A Cry for Help (1912, Short) – The Thief's Wife – the Charity Patient
The God Within (1912, Short) – The Woodsman's Wife
The Telephone Girl and the Lady (1913, Short) – The Lady
A Misappropriated Turkey (1913, Short) – Mrs. Fallon
The Wrong Bottle (1913, Short) – The Blind Sister
The Unwelcome Guest (1913, Short) – The Wife
A Welcome Intruder (1913, Short) – A Widow
The Stolen Bride (1913, Short) – The Wife
The Wanderer (1913, Short) – The Female Lover
The Tenderfoot's Money (1913, Short) – The Prospector's Wife
The Stolen Loaf (1913, Short) – The Rich Woman
The House of Darkness (1913, Short) – The Doctor's Wife
Olaf—An Atom (1913, Short) – A Parent
The Ranchero's Revenge (1913, Short) – The Schemer's Associate
The Well (1913, Short) – The Farmer's Wife
The Switch Tower (1913, Short) – The Switchman's Wife
A Gamble with Death (1913, Short) – Kate
The Enemy's Baby (1913, Short) – Miller's Wife
A Gambler's Honor (1913, Short) – Beth
The Mirror (1913, Short) – Daisy
The Vengeance of Galora (1913, Short) – Galora
Under the Shadow of the Law (1913, Short) – John Haywood's Sister
I Was Meant for You (1913, Short) – Lavina
The Crook and the Girl (1913, Short) – The Uncle's Adopted Daughter
The Strong Man's Burden (1913, Short) – Ida Glynn, The Nurse
The Stolen Treaty (1913, Short) – Olga
The Law and His Son (1913, Short) – Marguerite, Manning's Sister
A Tender-Hearted Crook (1913, Short) – Edith
The Van Nostrand Tiara (1913, Short) – Kate
The Stopped Clock (1913, Short) – The Antique Dealer's Daughter
The Detective's Stratagem (1913, Short) – Kate, the Bank Clerk's Sweetheart
All for Science (1913, Short) – Detective
A Nest Unfeathered (1914, Short) – Kate
Her Father's Silent Partner (1914, Short)
The Cracksman's Gratitude (1914, Short)
The Heart of a Bandit (1915, Short)
The Sheriff's Dilemma (1915, Short) – Molly
The Miser's Legacy (1915, Short) – The Crook's Wife
The Gambler's I.O.U. (1915, Short) – Nell – Daddy Wilson's Daughter
A Day's Adventure (1915, Short) – Hogan's Moll
The Canceled Mortgage (1915, Short) – The Widowed Mother
Truth Stranger Than Fiction (1915, Short) – Crook
Her Dormant Love (1915, Short) – The Discontented Wife
The Way Out (1915, Short) – The Young School Teacher
Her Convert (1915, Short) – The Old Inventor's Daughter
Old Offenders (1915, Short) – Joe's Wife
As It Happened (1915, Short) – The Ranchman's Daughter
A Stranger from Somewhere (1916) – Olga
Mixed Blood (1916) – Nita Valyez
The Right to Be Happy (1916) – Mrs. Cratchit
The White Raven (1917) – Daisy
The Gates of Doom (1917) – Indore / Agatha
The Bronze Bride (1917) – A-Che-Chee
The Clean-Up (1917) – Vera Vincent
The Empty Gun (1917, Short) – Mary
Fighting Back (1917) – The Fury
The Ship of Doom (1917) – Clara Gove
The Man Above the Law (1918) – Natchah
Captain of His Soul (1918) – Annette De Searcy
You Can't Believe Everything (1918) – Grace Dardley
Closin' In (1918)
The Return of Mary (1918) – Mrs. John Denby Sr.
The Follies Girl (1919) – Nina
Prudence on Broadway (1919) – Miss Grayson
Chasing Rainbows (1919) – Mrs. Walters
Heart o' the Hills (1919) – Martha Hawn
The Feud (1919) – Mary Lynch
The Woman in the Suitcase (1920) – Mrs. James B. Moreland
The Gift Supreme (1920) – Lalia Graun
The Devil's Riddle (1920) – Mrs. Potts
Blind Youth (1920) – Elizabeth Monnier
Through Eyes of Men (1920) – Mrs. Virginia All
The Jack-Knife Man (1920) – Lize Merdin
Something to Think About (1920) – Housekeeper
The Mark of Zorro (1920) – Doña Catalina Pulido
Midsummer Madness (1920) – Mrs. Osborne
Prisoners of Love (1921) – Her Mother
Chickens (1921) – Aunt Rebecca
What Every Woman Knows (1921) – Comtesse de la Brière
Mother o' Mine (1921) – Mrs. Sheldon
Wealth (1921) – Mrs. Dominick
Love Never Dies (1921) – Liz Trott
Rent Free (1922) – Countess de Mourney
The Gray Dawn (1922) – Mrs. Bennett
Penrod (1922) – Mrs. Schofield
The Ragged Heiress (1922) – Sylvia Moreton
The Lying Truth (1922) – Mrs. Sam Clairborne
Nice People (1922) – Margaret Rainsford
In the Name of the Law (1922) – Mrs. O'Hara
Heart's Haven (1922) – May Caroline
Quincy Adams Sawyer (1922) – Mrs. Putnam
The West~Bound Limited (1923) – Mrs. Bill Buckley
Michael O'Halloran (1923) – Nancy Harding
Human Wreckage (1923) – Mrs. Brown
Circus Days (1923) – Martha
Ashes of Vengeance (1923) – Margot's Aunt
Ponjola (1923) – Mrs. Hope
Enemies of Children (1923)
Black Oxen (1923) – Agnes Trevor
Judgment of the Storm (1924) – Mrs. Heath
Leave It to Gerry (1924) – Mrs. Brent
Thy Name Is Woman (1924) – Juan's Mother
Secrets (1924) – Elizabeth Channing
A Fight for Honor (1924) – Mrs. Hill
Those Who Dare (1924) – Mrs. Rollins
The Reckless Sex (1925) – Concha
Waking Up the Town (1925) – Mrs. Joyce
Dollar Down (1925) – Mrs. Meadows – Ruth's Sister
The Tower of Lies (1925) – Katrina
One of the Bravest (1925) – Mrs. Kelly
The Big Parade (1925) – Mrs. Apperson
The Midnight Flyer (1925) – Liza Slater
Ben-Hur (1925) – Princess of Hur
The Devil's Circus (1926) – Mrs. Peterson
The Dixie Merchant (1926) – Josephine Fippany
The Shamrock Handicap (1926) – Molly O'Shea
The Unknown Soldier (1926) – John Phillips' sister
The Show Off (1926) – Mom Fisher
The Flaming Forest (1926) – Mrs. McTavish
A Little Journey (1927) – Aunt Louise
The Auctioneer (1927) – Mrs. Tim Eagan
Cheaters (1927) – Mrs. Robin Carter
The Taxi Dancer (1927) – Aunt Mary
The Black Diamond Express (1927) – Martha Foster
Tillie the Toiler (1927) – Ma Jones
Winds of the Pampas (1927) – Doña Maria Casandos
The Shield of Honor (1927) – Mrs. MacDowell
Almost Human (1927) – Mrs. Livingston
The Tragedy of Youth (1928) – Mother
Don't Marry (1928) – Aunt Abigail Bowen
4 Devils (1928) – Woman
The Viking (1928) – Lady Editha
Marriage by Contract (1928) – Mother
When Dreams Come True (1929) – Martha Shelby
The Flying Fleet (1929) – Mrs. Hastings – Anita's Mother (uncredited)
Silks and Saddles (1929) – Mrs. Calhoun
The Quitter (1929) – Mrs. Abbott
Whispering Winds (1929) – Mrs. Benton
Redemption (1930) – Anna Pavlovna
The Second Floor Mystery (1930) – Aunt Hattie
Young Desire (1930) – Mrs. Spencer
The Big House (1930) – Mrs. Marlowe
Wild Company (1930) – Mrs. Laura Grayson
Brothers (1930) – Mrs. Bess Naughton
Mothers Cry (1930) – Mary's Mother (uncredited)
An American Tragedy (1931) – Mrs. Samuel Griffiths
Under Eighteen (1931) – Seamstress (uncredited)
Manhattan Parade (1931) – Nancy – the Maid (uncredited)
Union Depot (1932) – Little Boy's Mother (uncredited)
The Famous Ferguson Case (1932) – The Brookses' Landlady (uncredited)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932) – Mrs. Randall (uncredited)
Cornered (1932) – Jane's Aunt
The Phantom Express (1932) – Ma Nolan
A Successful Calamity (1932) – Struthers' Secretary (uncredited)
Lawyer Man (1932) – Gilmurry's Secretary (uncredited)
Central Airport (1933) – Mrs. Blaine
The Working Man (1933) – Benjamin's Secretary
By Appointment Only (1933) – Mrs. Mary Carroll
Paddy the Next Best Thing (1933) – Miss Breen (uncredited)
Wild Boys of the Road (1933) – Mrs. Smith
Bedside (1934) – Nurse (uncredited)
It Happened One Night (1934) – Mother on Bus (uncredited)
Journal of a Crime (1934) – Sister at Hospital (uncredited)
Dr. Monica (1934) – Miss Bryerly (uncredited)
British Agent (1934) – Woman Saying 'Lenin will Live' (uncredited)
Two Heads on a Pillow (1934) – Mrs. Helen Gorman
Imitation of Life (1934) – Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
Black Fury (1935) – Nurse (uncredited)
Murder by Television (1935) – Mrs. Houghland
August Week End (1936) – Alma Washburne
Small Town Girl (1936) – Woman in Bed (uncredited)
Criminal Lawyer (1937) – Night Court Judge (uncredited)
Two-Fisted Sheriff (1937) – Miss Herrick – Molly's Aunt
High, Wide, and Handsome (1937) – Seamstress (uncredited)
Test Pilot (1938) – Funeral Home Associate (uncredited)
Three Comrades (1938) – Landlady Frau Zalewski (uncredited)
Boys Town (1938) – Catholic Nun (uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight (1939) – Woman (uncredited)
Idiot's Delight (1939) – Crying Mother (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale (1939) – Jack of Diamonds Woman (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat (1939) – Nurse (uncredited)
Those High Grey Walls (1939) – Mother (uncredited)
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939) – Gossiper (uncredited)
Young Tom Edison (1940) – Woman at Station (uncredited)
The Captain Is a Lady (1940) – Old Lady (uncredited)
The Golden Fleecing (1940) – Pedestrian (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) – Nurse for Mr. Winslow (uncredited)
Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) – Witness at wedding (uncredited)
Lady Scarface (1941) – Mrs. Tuckerman (uncredited)
Reap the Wild Wind (1942) – Ettie (uncredited)
Keeper of the Flame (1942) – Mourner (uncredited)
The Youngest Profession (1943) – Woman (uncredited)
The Human Comedy (1943) – Woman on Street (uncredited)
Hangmen Also Die! (1943) – Counterwoman (uncredited)
Presenting Lily Mars (1943) – Dowager (uncredited)
This Land Is Mine (1943) – Woman in Bathroom (uncredited)
Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) – Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Black Market Rustlers (1943) – Mrs. Prescott (uncredited)
Teen Age (1943) – Mrs. Mary Abbott
Men on Her Mind (1944) – Mother Goodwin
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) – Dr. Standish's Servant (uncredited)
Are These Our Parents (1944) – Miss Winfield
The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) – Train Passenger in Passageway (uncredited)
Having Wonderful Crime (1945) – Guest (uncredited)
Adventure (1945) – Woman in Library (uncredited)
References
External links
1877 births
1966 deaths
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
Actresses from New York City
20th-century American actresses
American stage actresses